Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio lost for season with ankle injury

Rick Grayshock

12/07/2015

The Browns lost another player to the injured reserve.

The Cleveland Browns announced on Monday that left guard Joel Bitonio has been placed on season-ending IR.

Bitonio first injured his ankle against the Bengals week nine. He missed a pair of games and then returned Sunday. Bitonio injured his ankle again against Cincinnati and was replaced in the line-up by rookie Cameron Erving, who struggled before being lifted for Austin Pasztor.

Bitonio started all 16 games his rookie year, and the first nine games of 2016.

To replace Bitonio, the Browns have claimed Gabe Ikard off waivers from the Buffalo Bills. Ikard went to college at Oklahoma and was originally signed by the Titans as an undrafted rookie free agent last season.